OREANDA-NEWS. April 1, 2011. On March 31 Petrozavodsk was a venue for the exit session of the Federation Council’s Committee for Agricultural and Food Policy and Commercial Fishing Industry on the subject of Legislative Support of Fresh-Water Aquaculture, As Well As Amateur and Sport Fishing.

Andrei Krainy, Head of the Federal Fishery Agency, Gennady Gorbunov, Chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee for Agricultural and Food Policy and Commercial Fishing Industry, Head of Karelia Andrei Nelidov, as well as heads of Russian research institutes, directors of fish-farming companies – total more than 80 people from different regions of Russia have taken part in the session.

Welcoming the audience Andrei Nelidov has pointed out that issue of fish industry development and, in particular, adoption of statute On Aquaculture is absolutely essential for Karelia. The republic positions itself as a leader in trout-farming among the other Russian regions. 70% of this kind of fish is raised in Karelia. However, strategic plans are much more far-reaching, – fish farming should become a priority sphere in agricultural activities of the republic.

Andrei Nelidov has reminded, that cooperation agreement was concluded recently with the Russian Sea Group, the largest trout-breeding company in Russia, regarding investment in the amount of 5 billion roubles. Implementation of these plans within 5 years will both consolidate Karelia's leadership in Russia, and will also make volumes of trout production in the republic comparable to similar parameters of Norway, which is the absolute world leader in this area.

Head of the Federal Fishery Agency Andrei Krainy has told about plans on fish-breeding development in Russia. As he said, our country has all preconditions for its substantial growth, and Karelia indeed may become one of the leading regions in this sphere. The law in draft On Aquaculture discussed in Petrozavodsk is called to establish necessary regulatory system and specify measures of State support for producers.

The second important issue considered at the exit session of the Federation Council’s Committee was regulation of amateur and sport fishing. Amendments made in December to the federal law On Fishery and Preservation of Water Biological Resources have caused many questions among fans of fishing all over Russia, and Karelia did not become an exception. The main reason for concern was expected charging for fishing, especially in the suburbs of large cities upon granting fishery sites of water body on lease.

Andrei Krainy, Head of the Federal Fishery Agency, and Gennady Gorbunov, Chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee, have made a number of important statements in Petrozavodsk that explained the state of affairs in amateur fishery and further initiatives in this area.

In particular it was declared that legislators have made a decision to develop a special law on sport and amateur fishing that will describe in detail the whole system of fishing in water bodies by the end of this year. Gennady Gorbunov has invited representatives of public organizations to submit their offers.

Andrei Krainy has once again declared, as the law in force today does not doubt the citizens' right of amateur fishing. Water body lease tenders for amateur fishing were called to promote development of fishing infrastructure and to offer people a choice either to go fishing with comfort at the equipped camp, or to go fishing free-of-charge.

On results of tenders, 0.1% of surface of reservoirs in Karelia was granted for fishery sites on lease. However, the federal agency intends to control companies' performance of their business-plans and has already dissolved lease contracts with more than ten short-lived companies which have won contracts and tried to sell Karelian lakes via Internet. To make sure it doesn't happen again, to have no traditional amateur fishing sites among paid fishing sites, to keep some territory around big cities for free-of-charge fishing Russian Federal Fisheries Agency has suspended the tendering process until the new law is developed.

Besides, Andrei Krainy has explained, what even on the fishing sites nobody has a right to charge for approaching the water and catching fish there. The permit is an agreement of provision of services for a fee which may be rent of a boat, a small house, fishing tackles, overalls, but approaching to the water is not a service.

On results of the discussion of problems that occured at amateur fishing regulating, Head of Karelia Andrei Nelidov has made a decision to establish a proper commission under the Government of the republic that will make it possible to consider opinions of game fishermen and representatives of public organizations to the fullest extent.